Special Beat

Special Beat is a band put together in the early '90s by ex-members of the Specials and the English Beat, headed by Beat toaster Ranking Roger; former Fine Young Cannibals trumpeter Graham Hamilton is also present. The group's raison d'être seems to be mounting tours with a featured repertoire of Specials/English Beat classics -- and they have met with considerable road success in England and Japan. Their recordings -- all live, all quite similar -- include 1992's Live, 1994's Live In Japan, and 1998's Gangsters. ~ Steve Huey